Method of treating bituminous substances



UNITED J STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. WILSON, J'Ri, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T CAROLINAPAVE- I MENT COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OFMASSACHU- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

SETTS.

METHOD or TREATING BITUMINOUS SUBSTANCES.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE Jr., of Boston, inthe county of Sufi'olk andState of Massachusetts, a citizen of .the

United States, have invented a new and useful. Improvement in Methods ofTreating Bituminous Substances, of which the followin is aspecification.

y invention has for its object a method of treating bituminoussubstances such as crude oil, asphalt, etc., for the purpose of makingthem harder or tougher so that they will resist penetration to a highdegree and I For paving purposes,

cement or paint, a material in the case of oils raising their flashingpoint and lowering their freezing point. The product of this method is abituminous composition from which many of the volatile oils have .beenabstracted and the particles of which are caused to cohere to form,especially when used as a pavement or as a which is hard under allweather conditions, does not soften under the influence of a hot smmersun, nor does it become brittle in frosty weather, because it contains amaterial which acts much as does a flux or binder, serving to bind theparticles of the bituminous matter together and make a homogeneous mass.

In carrying out my invention I use with the bituminous foundation bypreference borax (Na B- O 1OH O) which I have found after giving oif itsH O amalgamates with the bituminous matter so as to toughen it insteadof acting merely as an inert filler. Moreover, the amount of H 0contained in borax is such as when sufliciently heated to processconsists in introducing borax'at atmospheric temperature into asphaltwhich has been heated to approximaely 400 F. for example, to 2000 lbs.of asphalt of a penetration of say 40-50, heated to sa' 400,I add oneweight fi20 bs.) of borax. T e water of crystallization of the borax isimmediately eliminated and an emulsion or foaming condition ensues,leaving the residue ofthe borax in union with the asphalt. oxidizingefiect also takes place due to the withdrawal of hydrogen from thehydrocarbon colloids and disposals of the bitumen, and

A. Winsorr,

When applied to commercial asphalt my er cent. by

Application filed January 21, 1920. Serial No. 353,096.

at the same time the temperature increases slightly due to the reaction.The borax unites with the bitumen as a binder, producing a compositionwhich will not deteriorate materially with age, climate, air or water,and when used in the usual way with a mineral aggregate to form a streetpavement, is far superior to all other asphalts of which I haveknowledge. The use of a borax with asphalt as above described I havefound will produce, weight for weight, a material havmg a greaterresistance to wear from the external force of crushing, impact, shearand tension, and the material can be made at less cost than any otherlike composition.

I do not mean to limit myself to the exact proportions nor temperaturesnamed, nor do I confine the invention to the use of borax as there areother materials which may be rendered anhydrous and will then unite withbitumen as a binder rather than as a filler.

When the product is not to be used for pavlng an asp may be used andwith a. slightly less percentage of borax.

I prefer to use commercial borax (Na B O,. 101-1 0) in carrying out theabove alt of higher enetration may process though borax in other formsmay be 2. A bituminous cement comprising bi tumen.and-substantially-less than one per cent. .of anhydrous borax.

3. A bituminous" cement from which volatile oils have been removed andcomprising bitumen and approximately one per cent. of borax. a

4. A bituminous cement or the like comprising a bituminous material fromwhich the highly volatile oils have been removed, and anhydrous borax.

GEORGE A. WILSON, JR.

